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FfOM 



THE BEGINNING. ^^ ^^ 



Thomas Ranney, born in Scotland ; in Middletown, Connecticut, 
in 1658; married in 1659, at llie age of 43, to Mary Hubbard, aged 
17, daughter of George Hubbard of Middletown; died June 21, 1713; 
" lined 97 years"; left four sons and six daughters ; presumably the first 
person buried in the "North Society" burying ground; was the last 
survivor of the Settlers of Middletown, which included the major settle- 
ment south of the Sebcthe or Little River, and the minor settlement, 
"north of the riuerlet," or Upper Houses, since 1851 the town of Crom- 
well. Many from this "North Society" having served under General 
Israel Putnam, commander of the American forces at "Buncker*" Hill, 
the anniversary of that engagement was chosen for the first celebration to 
be held here in honor of the founder of the Ranney family in America 
and of the more than eighty patriots born here and serving in the War of 
the Revolution. The entire population of the North Society taken by 
Solomon Sage, September i, 1776, was 754. 



«o<^^*' 



PLAU OF 

MIDDLETOWN 

"/^ORTJ-l OP THE RIYERET" 

J^\.<Lc 1680 krvowr\a5"Upper Houses" 
j^ aiAd ajter 1851 as tKeTowa of Cromwell 



JOSEPHKIRBY- 



^n* 



\ 



85 Rods 



-6AMUEL-ST0CKIMS;^ 



•JOKM-niRBy- 



■DAVID • SAGE ■ 



JOHM-WluCOK- 
Thomas Hubbard 



JOHN-CLAR.l<v- 



JhoilMsHutbdrd 



S,?:^^-^.*;;^^^ 



HOUSE' • *^ 

■THOIAAS-R ANNEX- \ (k 
Ge orge Graves \ -tu 

•J OHM -WARNER,' 

•SAMUEL-HALL- 
JosepKSiwtk 

•SAMUEL-HALL- 
Mdtthidi Treat 



•JOHN'3AVAGE- 
Win. Blunif'ield 



Ant HOMY 

Martin 



John-5avage\ || ^l 



MAP.OF 1675. 
*So spelled on print of Putnam of 1775. 



THE RANNEY REUNION. 



The 9:30 A. M. trains brought a goodly number of the Ranney family 
and of the guests of the afternoon celebration. Conveyances being in 
waiting, a pilgrimage was made through the original streets (see map of 
1675), stops being made to point out the homesteads of the founders of 
Cromwell. All stood on the location of the original Ranney house, 
occupied by his descendants till 1840 and standing till 1S80. Thenre 
to the Thomas-, John^, and Willet'' and ■* homesteads. Thence to the 
top of "Timber Hill," now treeless, which farm descended from 
Thomas 1 through Thomas- to Willet'\ by whom the house was built 
about 1720 and which was thoroughly inspected by the pilgrims through 
the courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. William Bergin. The view of the surround- 
ing country from Timber Hill glacial boulder is the fniest to be had in 
the town. 




TIMBER HILL GLACIAL BOULDER. 

The smaller portion has been placed on the Ranney grave. 

The pilgrimage ended at the cemetery laid out in the spring of 17 13, 
when the North Society was organized and the Rev. Joseph Smith was 
called to be the first pastor. The many Ranney gravestones were 
inspected. The tablestones of the Rev. Joseph Smith, pastor from 17 13 
to 1736, and of the Rev. Edward Eells, pastor from 1738 to 1772, 
and the headstones of the ancestors of Russell Sage, grandson of a 



patriot buried here, and of J. Pierpont Morgan, a descendant of 
Natlianiel White, had been marked with the national colors. 




GKAVi-S UK ANChSlUkS V¥ J. I'lEKPUNT MORGAN. 

A meeting was held at which the Ranney Memorial and Historical 
Association was temporarily organized with the following as officers: 

President, Robert Burton Ranney, New Castle, Pa. ; First Vice- 
President, Salvador Otis Ranney, Windsor Locks, Conn. ; Second Vice- 
President, Charles Keith Ranney, Hartford, Conn. ; Secretary-Treasurer, 
Charles Collard Adams, Cromwell, Conn. 

These represent respectively the four sons, John, Thomas, Joseph and 
Ebenezer, of Thomas Ranney. 

Adjournment was taken to Briggs Hall, decorated without and within 
with the national colors. An hour was passed in an inspection of the 
articles of historic interest. These included the 1698 " deed of gift " of 
land from Thomas^ to Ebenezer^, the ancestor of Mrs. Adams; the 1713 
autographs of three sons, four daughters and the three sons in-law of 
Thomas^; the 1698-1743 account book of 176 foolscap pages of John 
Warner, weaver, cai:>tain, business man, and grave-digger, with everv 
family living here (it tells in detail the articles and value of each which he 
gave to his daughter, Abigail, who married [Josephs] joseph2 Ranney); 
the oil jjortraits of the naval hero who built ships and captured a British 
powder ship, Capt. Nathan Sage, and of his wife, Huldah^ Ranney 
(Joseph^j; the 1798 quadrant of Capt. James Ranney; the i860 ])hoto- 
grai)h of the last Ranney born on the original homestead, Mr. James 
Ranney, 1805-1890, the father of Mrs. Adams ; the 1775 print in colors 
of General Putnam; the 1740 print of Frederick, Prince of Wales, who 
was the father of George HI; the 1770 hotel sign of Aaron White, the 



patriot; the musket, 1776, of John Hand, a patriot; the pulpit Bibles 
of the Rev. Mr. Smith and the Rev. Mr. Eells ; together with many 
documents relating to the i)atriols of the Revolution, including their 
api^lications of 1820 for pensions, in which they detailed their services 
and the value of their property. Amos Ranney had enlisted for land 
and sea five times, had hel[)ed to capture two ships in one day, was 78 
years of age, had been a woodchopi>er for 18 years, de|)ended on his 
daily earnings, and was wortli $3.75. His grave is here, but unknown. 
Patriots Boulder, however, is his monument. 

A proverbial Cromwell feast had been S])read by willing hands, and 
when all visitors had been served a small army of boys had their rations. 




J. PIEKPONT MORGAN S GR ANDMOTHKR, SPEiNCER, WAS BORN 
A^D MARRIKI) IN THIS HOUSE. 



HONORS TO THE PATRIOTS OF 177^-178^ 

On the arrival of the 2:30 trains the incoming guests were escorted to 
Briggs Hall and introduced. The bugler having sounded the call to 
assemble, the procession was formed by the marshal of the day, Mr. 
Timothy Dexter Simjjson, a Ranney by marriage and a veteran of 1861- 
1865, in the following order: 

Bugler. 

Veterans of 1861-65. 

Thirty girls in white carrying silk flags. 

One hundred boys and girls carrying flags. 

Ranney descendants and guests. 

The lady speakers in an automobile. 







O 5 



Our arrival at the nearby cemetery of 17 13 was greeted by a large 
concourse of residents and those who had come by train and conveyance, 
at least 500 people being present. 

"Patriots Boui,der," mounted on a brfiwnstone base and surmounted 
by the school bell of the original school district, cast in 1776, had lately 
been taken from the homestead of the first Sage, where an iceberg had 
left it, to the sward just outside the iron fence lately erected around the 
■cemetery from the accrued interest of the fund of 51,200 given in 1883, 
mostly by Russell Sage. A space around the boulder having been 
cleared, Miss Julia Mosher, a descendant of Stei)hen Ranney, a patriot, 
holding a large silk flag over the memorial boulder, spoke as follows : 
"In memory of the fifty patriots of the War for Independ- 
ence who were born in the North Society and are buried else- 
where we dedicate this gift of the glacial period. Within this 
enclosure sleep thirty other patriots who are buried with their 
fathers. This boulder stands watch and ward over them all. 
May the Stars and Stripes float over this memorial and over 
their graves on each recurring anniversary of Bunker Hill and 
Independence Day." 
As she placed the staff of her flag in the socket of the boulder the 
bugler lead the audience in singing The Star Spangled Banner. 

Marshalled by Comrade Simpson and lead by the bugler playing a 
dirge the thirty girls in white filed into the cemetery and were stationed 
each at a patriot's grave. As the bugler sounded "Lights Out" the 
silk flags were planted on these graves and one at the grave of Christiana 
Belden, widow of Seth Belden, whom she married in 1772 and who was 
killed in the battle of Long Island, 1776. She was a widow for 70 years 
and w^hen 80 years of age was granted a pension. 

The undersigned had furnished these patriots' records to the Con- 
necticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and had 
received from it the gift of the S. A. R. bronze markers for every known 
j3[rave of a patriot buried here and of others born here but buried else- 
where, including tliat of Col. Comfort Sage, who liad rendered such 
signal services. He obtained the gift of the silk flags from Cheney 
Brothers, South Manchester, Conn. Thus to Cromwell belongs the 
credit of being the first town in the Commonwealth in which such signal 
honors have been paid locally to the patriots of 1775-83. 

Exercises were then held from the platform erected near Patriots 
Boulder, the undersigned presiding. Prayer was offered by the Rev. 
Edward Eells, great-grandson of Major Edward Eells, who was in the 
militia when Lexington was fought on 19 April, 1775, started 21 April 
as an officer in Capt. Comfort Sage's troop of horse, fought from Bunker 
Hill to Yorktown, was mustered out only in June, 1783, and was an 
original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Miss Florence Taylor, 
descended from Capt. William Sage, Lieut. Jacob White, David Edwards 
and Ebenezer Ranney, patriots buried here, presented Patriots Boulder 
to the town, for whom it was received by Comrade Simpson. Miss 



Annie Pease welcomed all visitors and Miss Svea Anderson thanked all 
who had assisted in entertaining them. 

Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Edward Eells, by the Rev. 
C. H. Hands, pastor of the Baptist Church, several of whose organizers 
in 1802 were Ranne)S and patriots of 1775-83, and by the Hon. Josiah 
M. Hubbard of Mansfield Post, G. A. R., Middletown, grandson of the 
patriot, Lieut. Jeremiah Hubbard, with whom the North Society ])atriots 
served. Miss Mary Lessey Linehan, descendant of one who fought at 
Bunker Hill and a writer of note on early New England history, sketched 
the career of General Sullivan, the hero of Bunker Hill Mrs. Grace 
Brown Salisbury, historian of Mary Clapp Wooster Chapter, D. A. R., 
New Haven, spoke most eloquently on '' Patriotism." Her superior as, 
an orator cannot be fuund in New England. 




MAJOR-GHNERAl, I^hAKI, PUTNAM 

Under whom many from here fought at Bunker Hill. 

The day was ihe only one of sunshine and warmth in several weeks. 
"Fortune favors the brave." All visitors and guests ex| rts>ed their 
deh'ght at the feast of good things and tlieir desire for a similar celebra- 
tion next year. 



NEXT YEAR'S CELEBRATION. 

MORNING REUNIONS. 

It is designed to make Thursday, 17 June, 1904, Bunker Hill Day, a 
Red Letter Day. All descendant.s of the Founders, Fathers and Patriots 
of the North Society are cordially invited to return to share the pleasures 
of an Old Home Day at the "north of the riuerlet " of 1650. 

In the forenoon there will be a reunion of the descendants of Thomas 
Ranney and of Nathaniel White, which practically inchides, through 
intermarriages, the descendants of all named on ihe map of 1675. 
A pilgrimage will be made to the spots of special interest. Arriving at 



'"^■ti <^-! ■■■■: - ..-.-J 






J^Ji'y."- 






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x,L- ]J „,..-., ^ 



FROM THE JOHN WARNER BOOK. 

It cost two shillings to dig the grave of Thomas Ranney. 

the cemetery and inspecting the tombstones a photograph will be taken 
of those grouped at the Thomas Ranney grave, for use in the proposed 
volume. The Association will hold a meeting, jjlans perfected, officers 
elected and addresses delivered by descendants of Thomas Ranney. It 
is the desire that all should contribute articles of historic interest to the 
exhibit which should be made as extensive as possible. A committee 
will be at the hall early in the day to take charge of such objects as 
visitors bring with them. Dinner will be served. Information should 
be given a few weeks previously of all who then have planned to attend. 




ffi z 



< g 



THE AFTERNOON CELEBRATION. 

The exercises to be held on the cemetery green on arrival of the 2:30 
p. m. train will include addresses by a descendant of Nathaniel White, 
the foremost of the Founders ; by a descendant of the Rev. Edward 
Eells, the typical Father who was a chaplain in the French-Indian War, 




THE REV. EDWARD EELLS AND HIS liOVS 

At the 1738 well of the Rev. Edward Eells. 

three sons of whom served in the Revolution ; by a descendant of one 
of the Patriots of 1775-83 ; with such other addresses as may be decided 
on later. The full details in print will be sent in May to all who are 
then members of the Association. All persons receiving this pamphlet 
are requested to forward promptly to the undersigned the full names and 
addresses of their clan who are included in the scope of the jjroposed 
volume, that a copy of this pami)hlet may be sent to all such. (July by 
this method can the undersigned be placed in communication with all 
who should be reached. An edition of 3,000 has been issued to meet all 
possible calls for it. 

A steamboat leaves New York daily 'at 5 p. m. for Hartford, reaching 
Middletown, two miles south of Cromwell, at 7 a. m. Returning leaves 
Aliddletow^n at 7:30 p. m. for New York. Trains from Middletown and 
from Kartford, 14 miles north, are frequent on the Valley Division 
of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad from 7 a. m. to 
7:30 p. M. 



THE RANNEY FAMILY. 

WITH NOTES GENEALOGICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL AND 

HISTORICAL, DESIGNED TO INCLUDE LOCAL 

HISTORY FROM 1650. 

In 1855 I taught here, in i860 married here, and in 1888 removed 
here and have interested myself in public alTairs. In addition to the 
Founders named on the 1675 map are the Fathers, including the Smith, 
Eells, .Shepard, Roberts, Riley, Gibson, Ely, Spencer, Butler, Gridley, 
Johnson, Williams, Wells, Kelsey, Hubbard, Chauncey, Belden, Frary, 
Edwards, Paddock, Treat and others who came later and made their 
impress. By intermarriages the descendants of all of these are interested 
in the proposed volume. The wills and inventories from 1650 are on 
record, land records begin with 1654, family records and town meeting 
records with 1652, church records with 1668. 

Mrs. Iva Grover of this place, an expert i)hotographer, has taken 
over thirty views for the work and is at our service. All the old houses 
standing, including three that stood before 1720, and the school house 
built in 1745 "before Capt. Joseph Ranney's," now the ell of a resi- 
dence, will be reproduced, and the history of their first occupants given. 

For information concerning those who went to newer fields and of 
their descendants I must depend on some travel and research and much 
correspondence. 




HOME OF WILLETT (3) AND WII.LETT (4) RANNEY. 

Built about 1720, at the base of Timber Hill. 




The Second Church. — There were two Sabba Day Houses. 



Such a work should be embellished not only with the portraits of 
those who have "crossed the bar," but of those living who have made 
their names the synonyms of success. We should see "face to face," 
adopting the most modern ideas on biographical publications. The 
James Hamlin book is to contain 178 portraits. Early tombstones should 
be reproduced. Special correspondence on these proposed features of 
the work is respectfully solicited. 

While such a work on my part will be largely a labor of love its suc- 
cessful jirosecution depends on proper financial support. It is taken for 
granted there are those who will generously assist now that the oppor- 
tunity is given. 'I'he receipts from the sale of a genealogy never paid the 
printer when the work was thoroughly and conscientiously done. These 
suggestions have been considered by the officers of the Ranney Memorial 
and Historical Association and their appeal is given herewith. Mr. R. 
B. Ranney, the president, is the grandson of Abner Ranney, a patriot, 
who attained the age of loi years, 5 months. He and his brother are in 
the real estate and investment business. Mr. S. O. Ranney, the first 
vice-president, is a wholesale tobacco merchant. Mr. C. K. Ranney, 
the second vice-jjrcsident, is a native of Cromwell and is connected with 
a Hartford business firm. SamueF Adams served in the Revolution from 

Maryland. George- Adams served in 
the NVar of 181 2 from the City of 
Washington. The undersigned'^ was 
chaplain of the 2 2d Regt., Conn. 
Vols., is somewhat of a student of 
public affairs, given to historical re- 
search, and an advocate of the strenu- 
ous life. 

Charles Collard Adams, M. A. 
Cromwell, Conn. 




THE RANNEY MEMORIAL AND 
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

BY THE OFFICERS. 

This association was formed at Cromwell, Conn., on the occasion of 
"Cromwell's Double Celebration," 17 June, 1903, the anniversary of 
Bunker Hill, an account of which precedes this appeal. Every person 
by blood, marriage or residence interested in perpetuating the memory 
of the Founders, Fathers and Patriots of the North Society of Mitldle- 
town, now Cromwell, is cordially invited to become enrolled as a 
member of this association and to furnish their lineage for the proposed 
volume. 

It is proposed to hold the next reunion at Cromwell on the 
anniversary day, Thursday, 17 June, 1904, at which meeting due con- 
sideration will be given to developing plans for the future conduct 
of this association. It is hoped that there will be a large attendance, 
thereby promoting the interests of the association. All having articles 
of historic value are requested to arrange for their exhibition on this 
occasion. 

A knowledge of one's ancestry and of the parts they have taken in 
the nation's progress is a satisfaction to each thoughtful person, and 
while it is true our American customs place but little weight on " blood 
and ancestry," as is the case in other lands, yet the present tendencies 
indicate a growing regard in this res[)ect. Future generations will appre- 
ciate and enjoy the fruits of our efforts to inculcate the spirit of ancestral 
homage. 

One object of this association is to gather all material pertaining to 
the Ranney family, past and present, to put it into i)ermanent form for 
present enjoyment and for handing down to posterity that they may 
emulate the good deeds of their ancestry. The descendants of Thomas 
Ranney are located in nearly every state and territory of the union, five 
brothers living prosperously one hundred miles from the nearest railroad 
station, Colorado, yet in correspondence with our secretary. Their 
numbers run into the thousands, some have reached fame, some have 
acquired fortune. The total force gives strength to our nation, as the 
particles make up the sands of the seashore. We desire to know of 
each other, to rejoice each in the other's prosperity. By coming together 
at the homestead and grave of our common ancestor and comparing our 
divergent lines we will converge them till we feel that we are indeed 
of one blood. 



A Ranney genealogy, the outgrowth of correspondence and confer- 
ence, is what we owe to our ancestors, to ourselves and to our posterity. 
It should be in the hands of our children as well as in the libraries 
devoted to the storing of such material. 

Through intermarriages the early families of the North Society and 
their descendants belong to the Ranney blood, and are, in the language 
of the Bible, "members one of another." Thus the scope of our 
association is broadened to admit to our council fires the descendants of 
any and of all the Founders, Fathers and Patriots of the Cromwell of 
to-day, which dates its origin to the families who preferred to live 
-"north of the riuerlet " than in the more populous settlement south 
of it. Membership therefore is open to all such in an organization 
which aspires to gather and disseminate the history of a common ances- 
try, and also to any resident of the Cromwell of to-day. 

We wish to hear from every one receiving this appeal, signifying their 
interest in and approval of the undertaking, indicating to what extent 
they will assist in the prosecution of our plans, and offering any sug- 
gestions designed to facilitate our progress. We need to make up and 
•complete a directory of names and addresses of all who trace their ances- 
try to the North Society. Each can do much in this line, taking nothing 




Where the Hon. Russell Sage's father was born. 



for granted, but sending a full list of all within the circle of their 
acquaintance designed to be reached for our work. 

As the results will be for the benefit of all such we appeal to all .such 
to contribute to meet the necessary expenses. The correspondence, 
printing, mailing and postage of this and later i)amphlets and the 



expenses incidental to the next annual meeting will involve considerable 
outlay. It has been suggested that a minimum fee oi $i, with generous 
contributions from those able and disposed to do more, will result in 
satisfactory returns. We have thought it best to fix no fee for member- 
ship and leave each one to render any possible assistance. The Grant 
Family Association met at South Windsor, Conn., October 28 and 29, 
and reported 400 members with receipts of $461. Their genealogy 
has been printed. 

It has been decided to ask for subscriptions to the genealogy and 
history at $5 per copy. Correspondence with those experienced in such 
work shows that the receipts from sales will not cover the expense. 
Those who are able are requested to subscribe for as many copies as their 
ability permits, so that the leading libraries of the country can be sup- 
plied : even libraries depend on such gifts. It is hoped that special offers 
of help will be received from those who love to aid so worthy an object. 

Each member of the association will receive all printed matter with a 
list of all members and their addresses and an annual statement of the 
finances as audited and approved by the officers, also the State map of 
Middletown and daughter towns, known as section 19 of the State maj). 

Lord Nelson said "England expects every man to do hi':; duty."' 
So we confidently expect all success to attend our efforts. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Robert Burton Ranney, President. 
Salvador Otis Ranney, ist V. P. 
Charles Keith Ranney, 2d V. P. 
Charles Collard Adams, Sec.-Trras. 

December, 1903. 




^"'•j'^a- 



Hn nDemoriam. 

CAPTAIN NATHANIEL WHITE. 

Died Aug. 27, 17 11, aged about 82. 



'f-- ' 




- 






THE NATHANIEL WHITE PUBLIC SCHOOL, 

CROMWELL, CONN. 

©pcncxl liinxxav'B i^tli, X902. 



This Souvenir of Captain Nathaniel White 

IS' DEDICATED TO THE PUPILS OF 

Slxcillatlxauicl xWliitc guXiUc School, 

BY THEIR FRIEND, 

CHARLES COLLARD ADAMS. 



EXTRACT FROM HIS WILL. 

and four pound mony to the Reuerend m'' Noadiah Russell and 
what of my right of undivided lands may be dmed my wright ; my will 
is that ; one fourth part thereof be and remains for the use of the publique 
scholes Already Agreed upon In the town of midletown for ever : 

midletown August the : sixteenth : 171 1 signed & sealed. 

Nath: White. 

Pacsimile of autograph on a deed, dated March 9, 1698, whereby Thomas 

Ranney gives to bis son, Ebenezer, a parcel of land. The deed is 

in the possession of Mrs. Elizabeth Gridley Ranney Adams, 

a descendant of Ebenezer Ranney. 



NATHANIEL WHITE. 

Nathaniel W^hite, born about 1629, sailed with his father, Elder John 
White, on the ship Lyon and arrived at Boston on Sunday, September 
16: 1632. In 1635 they removed to Hartford, the homestead being 
adjacent to that on which stood the Charter Oak tree. 

In 1650 two settlements were made in Middletown, one near Riverside 
Cemetery and another " north of the riuerlet," now Cromwell. Wall, 
Pleasant and South Streets were the original streets. Nathaniel White 
owned on the north side of Wall from Main to the river. His house was 
near the head of Pleasant. On the east side of Pleasant were Samuel 
Stocking, Thomas Ranney and John Warner. On the west side were 
John Kirby, David Sage, John Wilcox and Thomas Hub'oard. On the 
north side of South was Samuel Hall, while on the south side was John 
Savage, opposite the present brick store, and x\nthony Martin, where the 
H. W . Stocking house stands. Such was the Cromwell of 1670. 

In 1668 a Church was organized and Nathaniel White was chosen 
with the minister to lav hands on the deacons. He was early an ensign, 
in 1677 ^ lieutenant and in 1690 captain of the "Midleton traine band." 
No other Cromwell founder received the latter title. He endorsed on the 
back of his will •' Capt. Nathaniel White's last will and testament." 
The lines are fourteen inches long. His handwriting shows no sign 
of physical weakness though he died two weeks later, aged about '^2. 

He was elected eighty-five times to the General Assembly, and as late 
as 1710. He was Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. 



He was the most distinguished of all the settlers of Middletown. 
His tombstone is in Riverside Cemetery by the side of that of his first 
wife. His second wife was the mother of the wives of two of his sons, 
of the wife of William Savage, and of the wife of Samuel Stow. She 
died in 1730 and is buried in Cromwell, as are her four daughters, 
children of her first husband, Hugh Mould of New London. 



FROM THE MIDDLETOWN TOWN MEETING RECORDS. 

Febry 5th : 1682 : 8^. At the same time the Inhabitants on the south 
side middletown ferry, Granted to their neighbor-; on the north side: the 
riuerlet. their jiroportions. of the schoal rate Granted by the town. . . . 
toward the maintaining of the scoal on the north side for this year. 

lany : 14: 169^ the to>vn voated that a yearly schoal be ke])t and 
maintained In this town. 

the town voated that their neighbors on the north side the fery shall 
have the benefit of their jiart. of half the years scool rale for the future, 
provided it be im;)rovtd for the benifit of schoaling their children. 

Note — In October, 1709. the General Assembly voted " Upon con- 
sideration of the p-tition of the inhabitants on the north side of the 
riveret in Middletown. now presented to the Assemblv. praying that so 
much of the school money arising by law. as shall be levyed on their i>art 
of the list of that town, mav be ordered to be improved for a school 
amongst them on the north side the said river: This Assemblv grants 
and alh)ws the same, provided they shall maintain a school for reading 
and writing, for one half of the year, annually ; and do order that on 
default thereof, the said mmey shall be paid toward the maintenance of 
the town school as foinierly." This order of the Court was read in the 
town meeting on Jan. i8: 1710/11. 

On March 13: 1710/ 11 the town |)assed a lengthv vote concerning 
the " north Societvs" shire of the tax of " foiirtv shillings upon the 
thousand pounds," "the north society having obtained a liberty in Octo- 
ber 1709." in which ihey "declared that the mater of controuercy is 
left with the worshipful M"" John hains. and M"" Vath' hooker both of 
hartford. to say bow much of the school money that did arise upon the 
fourty shillings on the lliousand pound, for the subsistance. of the town 
.schoal paid bv the treasurer in tlie vear 1709: to the selectmen, did, of 
right belong to our neighhors of the north societv." Thev also voted 
that the '' Committee should improve all such gifts, and donations as are 
or shall be made to thj si scool for the ba-;t use and benifit thereof." 



''5'y • • that no a. b. c: darians be al owed to come to be taught at 
the sd town schoall. unless it be when there is not a competency of 
others, to keep the schoal . master imployed. and it be with the sd 
masters" concent." 



The part taken by Nathaniel White in promoting the welfare of the 
"schools' already established " maybe judged from his gift in his will 
and from the first item for 1711 (171 2) in the following: 

FROM THE RECORD BOOK OF THE NORTH SOCIETY 
OF MIDDLETOWN. 

An account of ye charge of the school in the north Society 
in mideltown in the year under writen 1712 — o capt. 
White and ed shepard and : harris and for harrises bord, ^10-01-2 
In the year 1715 paid to charls goodrigdg for 3 months 

keeping scliool, ...---- 3 15-° 

In the year 1716 paid to Mrs. Smith for 3 months keei)- 

ing school, ..-----. 5-0-0 

In the year 1717 paid to Mrs. Smith and william prout, - lo-io-o 

To Joseph white for hording charls goodridg and prout, - 05-12-6 

to John Warner juner for his trouble about the school, - 0006-1 

for jonthan bordman for keeping school six months, - - 09-10-0 

to Joseph white for hording jonthan bordman six months, - 05-17-0 

to John warner for his trouble about the school according 

to the society's voat, ------- 02-02-4 

to mr bordman for keeping school in 1720, - - - 08-0 o 

to ensign white for hording mr bordman, - - - - 5-c o 

to mrs Stow for keeping school, ----- 03-00-0 

An account of what contrey money was received to defray 
the charge of the school in the respective years men- 
tioned on the other side in the year 17 12 received, - 03-03 o 
in the yeare 1715, ------- 05-0-4 

in the year 17 16, - - - - - - - 05-0-7 

in the year 1717, ------- 05-5-0 

An account of town money ordered to defray the charg of 
the school in the respective years mentioned on the 
other side, in the year 1712 there was : ordered - 04-00 

in the year 1715, - - - - - - - 03-17-0 

in the year 1716, .-..--- 03-10 o 

in the year 171 7, - - - - - - - 05-08-0 

Gentry money 1 718 was ------- 05-16-10 



toWn money lyi^ >^as » * w i . ; . 63-i4»t 

for money received of Joseph raney, ----- 02-00-1 

mon received of Jacob white ss-gd and of Serg Sage 4s-6d ") 

on the account of Thomas stow colector, ) ' "^ 

mon Joseph White's rate, ...... 00-05-5 

contrey money received 1719 was - ... - 06-02-6 

town money ordered 17 19 was -.---. 03-17-8 

contrey money received 1720 ------ 06-12-0 

town money ordered 1720 --.... 3-19-6 



68-14-00 



Note — The Boardman genealogy gives a sketch of the Johuathan Boardman house 
in Rocky Hill standing till 1892. See page 247 of Genealogy. 



The descendants of Nathaniel White are cordially invited 
to join with the Ranney Memorial and Historical Association 
on Bunker Hill Day, 1904, in honoring the Founders, Fathers 
and Patriots of Middletown North Society, now Cromwell, 
Conn. 

The White genealogy was published in i860 and it is 
impossible to obtain a copy. One will be on exhibition at 
the reunion, 17 June, 1904. 

An oration will be delivered by a prominent descendant 
of him, the foremost of all the settlers of Middletown. 

A visit will be made to the White school house, his only 
public memorial, which was so named on the suggestion of 
C. Collard Adams. 

In 17H the General Assembly appointed Commissioners 
to dispose of the gifts of land from Rev. Samuel Stow, Jas- 
per Clements and Nathaniel White. In 174^ these let out 
for 999 years, that of White for ^^106, Middletown Land 
Records, Vol. 12, page 637. The Nathaniel White school 
is being supported in part by the income from the ^^"106. 



tm 



15 \^^^ 



SI^ECI-A-L. 



Each person receiving this pamphlet is requested to acknowledge its 
recei'ptpromptly with full- name and full address on a postal card to the 
Secretary. 

Also, ask your local editor to review the pamphlet, and send "marked 
copy" to the Secretary. Thus some will be reached who otherwise 
would not be informed of our plans. 

The Officers, 



73 78 544' 



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